Incinerator



July 3, 1951 A. H. RIEBSCHLAGER INCINERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 21, 1948 July 3, 1951 A. H. RlEBscHLAGl-:R 2,559,229

INCINERATOR Filed June 2l, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lHIIIIHIIAa NToNHRls-:sscmmm 6E 'o El 'F1L- 5- @Alf/@fw ATTORNEYS Patented July 3, 1951UNITED STATES tPATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to incinerators and more particularly toincinerators adapted for use in rest rooms, bathrooms and the like forthe disposal of catamenial devices Such as sanitary pads and disposabletissues of the type employed for feminine hygienic purposes.

The disposal oi such material in an efcient, sanitary, and convenientmanner has long constituted a serious feminine problem. When placed inwater closets and removal effected by ushing action oi the closet,clogging of the drain almost always results. When placed in Wastebaskets, in wrapped or unwrapped condition, an unsanitary condition iscreated.

It is an object of the present invention to pron vide an incinerator inwhich sanitary pads and the like may be quickly and convenientlyconsumed by burning, effecting their disposal in a convenient andsanitary manner.

Another object is to provide means whereby sanitary pads and otherdisposable tissue may be burned or incinerated so as to leave only aclean, sanitary ash.

Another object is to provide an incinerator adapted to receive andconsume quantities of such material successively deposited thereinhaving an ignition means activated for periods of predetermined lengthin response to frequency of depositing of additional quantities of thematerial.

Another object f the invention is to provide means in an incinerator forelectrically burning such material combined with means by automaticallyactivated insertion of the material into the incinerator andautomatically controlling the period of energization of the burningmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter described, means for automatically predetermining duration ofignition period in response to the opening of a door of the incineratorthrough which door opening insertion of such material is effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for the additiveeffect of successive opening of a door in the incinerator resulting inan accumultion of time for the burning period.

A further object is to provide for the easy removal of the ashes fromthe incinerator.

A still further object is to provide a pilot light or other means toindicate operative or non-operative condition of the incinerator.

Other objects and purposes of the present invention Will become apparentin the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of anincinerator embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the incinerator taken alongline 2 2 in Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the incinerator showingelements thereof in rest, or non-operating, position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the incinerator, asshown in Fig, 3, but with a door thereof in open position and a timingmechanism and electrical switch in operating position for the energizingof an ignition means thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the incinerator with afront cover plate removed therefrom to reveal additional details ofstructure.

Referring to the details of the drawings, the

incinerator comprises a cast housing I0 having back portion l I, abottom portion I2, side portions I3 and I4, and a top portion I 5 havingan integral flue I 6 extending upwardly therefrom. This flue IB isadapted to have a stack, or the like, telescoped thereon for the removalof gas and fumes from the interior of the incinerator. The housing isprovided with a attened face having a plurality of tapped openings I'Iformed therein. A plate i 8 is located against this flat face andconstitutes -a forward wall for the housing. A nishing plate I9 overlaysthe outer face of the plate I8 and a plurality of screws 20 extendthrough both of the plates IB and I 9 into the plurality of tappedopenings II thereby holding the plates in place against the front faceof the housing. The inner plate I8 is provided with an upper rectangularopening 24 therethrough near ther top of the housing and a lowerrectangular opening 25 therethrough near the bottom of the housing. Theouter finishing plate I9 likewise has an upper rectangular opening 28therethrough coincident With the opening 24 in the plate I3 and a lowerrectangular opening 29 therethroughcoincident with the opening 25 in theinner plate I8. The outer plate I9 has a portion 3l which radiallyextends from the housing of the incinerator at all sides whereby anopening in a wall through which the incinerator may be installed will becovered by the overhanging portion 3l to give aiinished appearance.

The upper openings 24 and 28 in the inner plate I8 and the outer plateI9, respectively, are closed by means of a door 33 hingedly supported onay pair of arcuate hinge members 34 secured in spaced relationship tothe rear face of the door 33 and extending rearwardly, then downwardlyand then forwardly relative to the door. A pair of horizontally spacedears 35i are secured to and extend rearwardly from the rear face oi theplate I8 and a pivot rod 35 is extended through the ears 36, through thearcuate hinge members 34, and through openings 31 in the side portionsI3 and I4 of the housing I0. The rod 35 is secured to the hinge members34 and adapted to rotate therewith. The door 33 has an outwardlyextending knob 38 secured thereto near its upper edge whereby the doormay be conveniently opened and closed manually.

Means are provided for burning sanitary pads, disposable tissues and thelike after insertion into the housing. Said means conveniently comprisesan electric heating element or ignition means 4|] extended throughopenings 4| in the side portion I3 of the housing lll and arranged inflake confliguration, as shown at Q2, in such a manner as to constitutea grate adapted to support combustible material deposited in thehouslng.

When combustible material is burned on the heating elements 40, theashes therefrom gravitate downwardly to an ash receptacle 6i?, therearward most of the ashes being guided downwardly and forwardly intothe receptacle by means of an angular plate 44 attached to the rearinner face of the back of the housing lli.

The ash receptacle 48 in its inserted position is located beneath theelectric heating element 40 and comprises a rectangular, sheet metal,casing 49 open at its upper side and attached at its forward edge to anash receiver door i?, which door has a plurality of vertical slots oropenings 5| therethrough for the passage of air into the interior of thehousing for the complete oxidation of the material by the heatingelement. The ash receptacle is provided with a knob 52 whereby it may beeasily and conveniently withdrawn for the emptying of the accumulatedashes therefrom.

Means are provided for electrically energizing the heating element 4Bfor the ignition of material deposited in the housing and forautomatically controlling the period of energization of the element inresponse to frequency of opening of the door 33 for the insertion ofmaterial therein. This means comprises an arm ll secured to one end ofthe door operated rotatable rod 35. 'Ihe arm has a series of radiallyspaced openings therethrough for the adjustable pivotal connection at 6|of one end of a cross head 62 of a T-shaped ratchet member B3 thereto.The opposite end of the cross head 62 is supported, in rest position, ona U-shaped bracket 65 secured to the outer side of the side portion I3of the housing l0 by means of a single screw IB6 threadedly receivedtherein. The long leg 64 of the T-shaped ratchet member 63 is providedalong one side with a plurality of ratchet teeth 68 in rack geararrangement and the upper end of this leg B4 is guided for movementsubstantially parallel to the side of the housing Ill by means of aguide bar 69 attached to the side of the housing I0 by means of a screw1I).

A timing mechanism is rigidly mounted in spaced relation to the side i3of the housing I0 on a bracket 16 secured thereto and attached to theside I3 of the housing I il by means of a screw 11. The timing mechanismhas an inwardly extended rotatable winding shaft 19 which is rotatableby means of a clockwork mechanism t0 a, lfQSt 4 or stop position withthe clockworking mechanism still wound, and is also rotatable to aposition with the clockwork mechanism in a still further wound position.An escapement, not shown, is employed for the slow unwinding of themechanism and the consequent rotation of the shaft 19. A hub is securelyattached to the winding shaft 19 having a flat circular ratchet wheel 8|attached thereto. The ratchet wheel has a plurality of ratchet teeth 82formed in its periphery. An arm 83 is also securely attached to the hub80 and extends radially outwardly therefrom beyond the timing mechanismhousing 15 and has an axially extended iinger 84 at the outer endthereof formed at right angles thereto. This finger 84 is adapted tooperate a switch hereinafter described.

A normally-closed micro-switch 85 is mounted on a bracket 1t closelyadjacent the timing mechanism 'l and has a spring member 81 attached byan end portion to the upper side thereof with a roller 88 rotatablymounted at its outer end, the spring member El when released allowing apin 39 to move upwardly causing the switch 86 to close. When the roller88 and spring member B1 are moved downwardly the pin 89 is forceddownwardly thereby opening the switch 86. The micro-switch structure isin itself well known and thus not described in greater detail at thispoint. The arm 83 is movable by the clockwork mechanism to a restposition, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the spring member 81 isdepressed thereby opening the switch 86. The arm 83, is also movable bymeans of the ratchet mechanism Gli, to a position, as shown in Fig. 4,in which position the switch 86 is permitted to move to its normallyclosed position.

A pilot light is provided for the incinerator to indicate the energizedor de-energized condition of the heating elementl iid. A window 92,preferably of colored, transparent material, is located in an opening inthe outer plate I9 and held therein by means of a bezel 93. An anglebracket 94 is attached to the side I3 of the housing I il with a lampsocket 95 attached thereto adapted to threadedly receive anelectric-light bulb 96 therein. rlhis bulb is juxtapositioned the window92 whereby when it is energized the light therefrom will appear throughthe window 92.

A source of electrical energy having the usual 11G-volt potentialcommonly found in homes, service stations, and the like, is indicatedgenerally at V of Fig. 3. An electrical conductor |00 is energized fromthe source of electrical energy and is connected to the micro-switch 86at a pole IIJI thereof. A second conductor |03 interconnects a secondpole Ill of the microswitch and a contact |85 of the lamp socket 95. Alead wire |66 for the ignition means 4l) is interconnected the conductor|03 and a terminal |01 of the ignition means. A second lead wire II isinterconnected a second terminal I|| of said ignition means and a secondcontact ||2 of the lamp socket Q5. So connected it will be apparent thatthe switch 86 and the ignition means 4!) are connected in electricalseries between opposite poles of the source of current supply indicatedat 110V, the pilot light bulb 96 being connected in parallel with saidignition means.

Operation The incinerator described above is adapted to be mounted in anopening in a wall, not shown, of a rest room or bathroom with theoverhanging vportion 3| of the plate I9 against the outer side of thewall. A chimney, also not shown, is telescoped over the flue I6 toeffect escape of the fumes and gasses from the interior of theincinerator and direct the same outwardly of a building in which thedevice of the present invention is mounted. When it is desired to inserta sanitary pad or the like into the incinerator, the door 33 is openedby means of the knob 38 thereby pivoting the door 33 and rod 35 in thebearing members 35. While the door is open the pad may be insertedthrough the openings 2d and 28 into the interior of the incineratorwhere it descends to and is supported by the heating element 40.

While the door 33 is being opened the arm 60 is rotated by the pivot rod35, whereby on the rst rotative motion thereof the teeth E8 of theratchet member 53 rst engage the teeth 82 on the periphery of theratchet wh eel 8|, with the opposite end of the head 62 of the ratchetmember B3 supported in the U shaped bracket 65 during this movement fromrest position to the engagement with the ratchet teeth on the ratchetwheel. On further opening motion of the door, the ratchet member 63rotates the ratchet wheel 8| in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin Figs. 3 and 4, until the door is fully open. On the rst rotativemotion of the ratchet wheel 8i, the nger 84 at the outer end of the arm83 moves counterclockwise with the ratchet wheel thereby removing thedownward pressure on the roller 88 and allowing the micro-switch to moveto its closed position, whereby the electrical circuit including thepilot light 96 and to the heating element 4D is closed.

After the pad is inserted into the interior of the incinerator, the dooris moved to closed position leaving the timing mechanism in thepartially wound condition with the electrical circuit to the heatingelement closed. The return spring escapement, built into the timingmechanism 15, permits the timed return of the arm 83 and the ratchetwheel 8l to their normal rest position, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing. When the arm 83 approaches this rest position the finger 84thereon contacts the roller 88, depresses the roller, moves themicro-switch to open position, and thereby interrupting the circuit tothe electrical heating element 4B. The timing mechanism is operated,wound by the movement of the ratchet member 63, to such an extent that asingle catamenial device of conventional material and moisture contentlocated on the heating element will be properly burned to an ash duringthis interval of time.

Means are provided for increasing the period of heating time whensuccessive insertions of combustible material into the incinerator aremade. When one pad is inserted into the incinerator the timing mechanismis moved to cause the heating element to be energized for a certainperiod of time. If before this time has elapsed another pad is insertedinto the incinerator, on opening the door to insert the pad therein, theratchet member 63 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and rotates theratchet wheel and clockwork mchanism to the same extent that it wouldhave rotated the same, had there been no remaining time on the timingmechanism. This additional opening of the door subjects the timingmechanism to further winding and results in an accumulation of timeduring which the ignition means will remain energized.

To protect the timing mechanism, means are provided to limit the totaltime that can be accumulated. This is done by limiting the ratchet teeth82 to a portion of the wheel 8l and providing the remainder of the wheelwith a smooth periphery. When the timing mechanism has been woundsufficiently to present the smooth periphery of the wheel for engagementby the teeth 68, said teeth slip on the wheel and excessive windingprecluded. Obviously the wheel is provided with teeth for a sufficientarcuate eX- tent to enable the device of the present invention toaccommodate a plurality of catamenial devices and effectively to consumethe same.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have devised anincinerator in which sanitary pads, disposable tissue, and the like, maybe conveniently disposed of in a sanitary manner and in which theoperation thereof, for the incineration of such material, isaccomplished automatically on opening the door for the insertion thereofand providing an increased period of operation of time when a subsequentinsertion is effected while previously inserted material is beingconsumed. From the construction described it will be seen that theincinerator accomplishes all of the foregoing objects and advantages.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I haveconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not limited to the details disclosed herein, but isto be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and allequivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A timing device responsive to the elevational pivotal reciprocationof a lever arm adapted to accumulate increments of time of individuallyselected duration dependent upon eX- tent of pivotal movement of thelever arm and in predetermined ratios of response thereto comprising aclockwork mechanism having a substantially horizontal winding shaftrotatable in one direction to wind the mechanism and rotated in theopposite direction through an escapement in response to unwinding of themechanism, a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft in a substantially erectplane having peripheral ratchet teeth adapted for driving' rotation ofthe wheel to rotate the shaft in a winding direction, an invertedT-shaped ratchet bar having an erect leg with teeth formed along an edgethereof engageable with the ratchet wheel and a cross head at the lowerend of the leg, means for supporting one end of the cross head adjacentand below the clockwork mechanism for slidable pivotal movement, andmeans pivotally interconnecting the opposite end. of the cross head andthe lever arm in adjustably spaced relation to the pivotal mountingthereof whereby upward pivotal movement of the lever arm elevates theend of the cross head connected thereto a distance determined by extentof elevational movement of the lever arm and adjusted connection of thecross head thereto pivots the crosshead about the slidably supported endthereof to move the erect leg into ratchet wheel engagement, continuedupward pivotal movement of the lever arm elevates the T-shaped ratchetbar rotating the ratchet wheel to wind the clockwork mechanism anddownward pivotal movement of the lever arm lowers the T-shaped ratchetbar and pivots the erect leg away from the ratchet wheel about theslidably supported end of the cross head.

2. In a wall incinerator having a vented housing adapted to be mountedin a wall and having an opening in a side thereof, a door mounted on thehousing for reciprocal pivotal positioning between open and closedpositions relative to the opening, an electrical ignition means mountedin the housing below the opening closed by the door, and an electricalcircuit for energizing the ignition means; the combination of a normallyclosed switch electrically connected in series with the ignition meansin the energizing circuit, a clockwork timing m-echanism having awinding shaft, an arm radially extended from the shaft adapted to holdtheswitch in open position when the clockwork mechanism is unwound androtated from the switch when the mechanism is wound, a ratchet wheelmounted on the shaft having peripheral ratchet teeth adapted for drivingrotation of the wheel to rotate the shaft in a winding direction, aninverted T-shaped ratchet bar having an erect leg with teeth formedalong an edge thereof engageable with the ratchet wheel and a cross headat the lower end of the leg, a U-shaped bracket mounted on the housingsupporting one end of the cross head adjacent and below the clockworkmechanism for slidable pivotal movement, an arm mounted for unitarypivotal movement with the door having an end portion adjacent to the endof the cross head opposite to that rested in the U-shaped bracket, andmeans pivotally interconnecting said end of the cross head opposite tothat rested in the bracket pivotally to the radially extended end of thelever ar-m in adjustable positions radially of the pivotal mountingthereof whereby opening of the door pivots the erect leg of the T-shapedratchet bar inwardly against the ratchet Wheel and moves said legupwardly winding the clockwork mechanism to an extent determined by theadjustable radial connection of the cross head to the lever arm andextent of door opening and successive door openings successively windthe clockwork mechanism in ac-v cumulated increments o1 correspondinglydetermined duration.

ANTON H. RIEBSCHLAGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,293,141 McGary Feb. 4, 19191,773,697 Rhodes Aug. 19, 1930 2,044,085 Laghetto June 16, 19362,340,442 Toce et a1 Feb. 1, 1944 2,376,938 Potter May 29, 1945

